3-alarm fire in building near SF's UN Plaza now under control

A three-alarm fire that broke out in a building undergoing renovations near San Francisco's United Nations Plaza is under control, a fire spokeswoman said.

The blaze was reported at 12:03 p.m. Monday at 45 McAllister St., the site of the former Renoir Hotel, fire officials said.

Firefighters responded and initially went into the eight-story structure, but evacuated after hearing explosions that possibly came from propane tanks inside the building, fire spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.

Smoke was pouring out of multiple floors of the building this afternoon but no flames were visible from the street.

After mostly fighting the blaze from outside, the fire was eventually declared under control at 3:22 p.m., Talmadge said.

About two dozen construction workers were in the building when the fire started in between the first and second floors, Talmadge said.

All of the workers got out of the building but seven were taken to a hospital with smoke inhalation. One other worker suffered smoke inhalation but declined to be taken to the hospital. Their injuries are not considered life-threatening, Talmadge said.

The response to the fire shut down a portion of Market Street as well as other streets surrounding the building.

Crews had reopened Market Street by the time the fire was under control but other streets in the area remained closed, Talmadge said.